By our staff reporter
Despite the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA) operating for two decades, the number of trademark registrations and ownership rights granted remains relatively low, with approximately 20,000 individuals having gone through the process. Notably, out of the 14,000 applicants who obtained ownership rights, only 9,000 received business application approval to operate in Ethiopia, a significantly small number compared to the 400,000 businessmen in Addis Ababa alone.
This gap in trademark registration has led to unnecessary commercial competition, as highlighted by the head of the trademark institute. The lack of coordination between the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority and the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration has emerged as a major challenge in the sector. To establish a more stable business environment, the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority has emphasized the need to register not only business names but also trademarks.
One of the underlying issues contributing to the problem is that while it is a business owner’s responsibility to register a trade name upon commencing operations, a trademark is not currently a requirement for obtaining a trade license. Tigist Bogale, the executive director of the trademark institute, has explained that this discrepancy has resulted in limited practice among business owners when it comes to registering the logos associated with their companies, products, and services.
In an effort to safeguard trademark rights, the authority plans to engage in discussions with rights holders, the business community, and representatives from the judiciary. The focus will be on addressing unnecessary commercial competition arising from the unauthorized use of similar trademarks and other violations of rights.
Established in 2003, the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority aims to facilitate the adequate legal protection and utilization of intellectual property within the country. This involves collecting, organizing, distributing, and encouraging the use of technological information found in patent documents. The absence of Ethiopia’s participation in international intellectual property agreements, such as the Madrid Protocol and the Copyright Agreement of the World Intellectual Property Organization, has had a negative impact on trademark registration, as highlighted by Tigist Bogale.
Effective law protection extends beyond mere implementation; it requires a comprehensive understanding and knowledge among legal interpreters and executive bodies who are key stakeholders. The current lack of such understanding has contributed to Ethiopia’s relatively low standing in the field of intellectual property rights.
